INTERVIEWING AND HIRING

During the hiring process, coordinators must follow school district guidelines with regard to posting the position, advertising, affirmative action, veteran's preference, interviewing candidates, criminal background checks, and the paperwork required by the district. The school district's Human Resources Department or personnel director should have a copy of these guidelines and can be helpful in answering any questions about the process. Clear and specific job descriptions should be written for all positions in the program. It is important for new job applicants to know what the job entails. It is also essential that all program staff members clearly understand their job expectations.

There is no one way to conduct an interview and no set rule for who should be part of the interview process. One option is to have the coordinator, other district staff, and a parent from the advisory committee interview teacher candidates. The coordinator and a teacher can interview paraprofessional candidates. Larger districts may want to assemble an interview committee composed of a small number of staff and parents. The same people should be present for all interviews. Except for second and/or final interviews, more than one person should conduct the interviews so there are at least second opinions on all candidates. Interview questions must be the same for all candidates.

During the interview, gather information about a candidate’s general knowledge of the field. When interviewing an early childhood teacher, it is still important to ask questions about parents because of the great amount of contact that teacher will have with parents. Even though each job description is different, the parent educator and early childhood teacher work very much as a team and must be knowledgeable of the other's field. Some possible interview questions follow.

1. How do people learn to be parents? (You are looking for the person who realizes the tremendous effect one's own parents have on our parenting style and yet understands the process by which one can consciously and deliberately choose an independent parenting style.)
2. How and why do adults change their behavior? (You are looking for the person who realizes that adults do not learn by being lectured. They change their behavior only when they are motivated by their feelings and their values. It is important to understand the amount of critical reflection that goes into parent education. A good parent educator will understand that at best he/she is a facilitator or catalyst, but that the parent must have the will or desire to change.)
3. Describe for me a good environment for a two-year-old group and how it differs from a quality environment for three- and four-year-olds. (You are looking for the person who views each age level as something unique, who understands the needs of children at different age levels, and who sees early childhood education in very different ways depending on age and developmental level. Beware of the person who says that you do basically the same things, only “watered down.”)
4. What are some stages of parent development? (You are looking for the person who understands that adults grow and develop just as their children do and that different educational responses are needed depending upon the parent’s developmental level. They should have some understanding that parenting an infant is much different from parenting a four-year-old. They should have some idea of what each age of child means for the parent in terms of appropriate responses.)
5. How do children influence their parents' behavior? (You are looking for some understanding of the idea that the family is a system, and that each member potentially influences the behavior of every other member.)

Gather information about the applicant's self-understanding and self-concept. Since much of the work in Early Childhood Family Education is developing relationships and helping both parents and children improve their self-understanding and become more competent and confident, teachers must possess those same characteristics in order to be effective.

1. Have there been any significant events in your life that strongly influenced who you are today? Would you describe one of these?
2. Describe for me your favorite (least favorite) supervisor. Tell me what he/she did that you liked (didn't like).
3. If I were to speak with current or former coworkers of yours, what would they say they liked about you?
4. What strengths would you bring to this job?
5. What are some things you do less well, areas you hope to improve?
6. Tell me about a professional accomplishment that was very exciting and satisfying for you.
7. What do you like best about working with children/parents?
8. In your opinion, what is the most difficult challenge of being a parent today?
9. We all deal with conflict in different ways. Give me a specific example of how you have dealt with conflict.

Much of the interview should be spent gathering information about past behavior, since it is the best predictor of future behavior.

1. Tell me about your teaching style.
2. Describe a child (or parent) who irritated you and why. How did you handle this?
3. What do you see as your role when you are with a group of children?
4. How do you communicate expectations or rules to children? What are your expectations?
5. Tell me about the last time you planned an activity that didn't work.
6. What do you expect from parents?
7. What kind of parent behaviors do you find most difficult to handle in-group discussion? How have you handled them?
8. Tell me about a time you and a co-worker disagreed. How was it resolved?